KERMA, SUDAN—A burial from the Kerma culture, dated by radiocarbon to between 1775 and 1609 B.C., has been uncovered in Sudan’s Bayuda Desert, once part of ancient Nubia. The discovery was made by a team including Monika Badura and Henryk Paner from the Gdańsk Archaeological Museum.

The grave contained the remains of a robust man, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall. His lumbar vertebrae were flattened and his left ankle showed changes consistent with heavy physical labor. Thickening of his skull suggests he may have suffered malnutrition, disease, or trauma during his life.

Two clay vessels were also found. One was an upside-down bowl, a common feature in Kerma burials, which researchers suggest may symbolize the “emptying of life” from the vessel and the body. The other vessel, more unusual, had a black stripe and contained traces of fire, animal bones, coprolites, and insects, indicating a burial ritual that involved fire and possibly feasting, according to Paner.

Additionally, 82 faience disk-shaped beads were discovered near the man’s neck. These beads, likely acquired through Nubia’s extensive trade networks, reflect the social connections and material wealth of the period.